Lawsuit tells scary story of runaway elevator in Houston skyscraper

Updated 3:32 pm, Friday, May 10, 2013

EMS workers wait to possibly transport individuals after firefighters rescued three people from an elevator at 1400 Smith.

EMS workers wait to possibly transport individuals after firefighters rescued three people from an elevator at 1400 Smith.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

Image 2 of 4

Firefighters on the scene of an elevator rescue Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Firefighters on the scene of an elevator rescue Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 4

1400 Smith is pictured in this file photo.

1400 Smith is pictured in this file photo.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Chronicle

Image 4 of 4

The skyscraper at 1400 Smith in downtown Houston is pictured in this file photo.

The skyscraper at 1400 Smith in downtown Houston is pictured in this file photo.

Photo: Carlos Antonio Rios, Staff

Lawsuit tells scary story of runaway elevator in Houston skyscraper

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

Two women have sued Chevron U.S.A., Inc., claiming they were trapped and injured in an apparent runaway elevator in the company's building downtown earlier this year.

Leslie Williams and Victoria Martinez claim in the suit that on Feb. 7 they were in an elevator that malfunctioned. The suit claims the women were trapped in the elevator on the 39th floor as they were going to the lobby to get breakfast. They called for help on the elevator's intercom and spoke on and off with security staff for about 40 minutes.

Then the elevator began moving slowly for a few feet before it zoomed upward and crashed into the top of the shaft at the 50th floor, according to the suit.

Firefighters rescued the women. The suit claims firefighters dropped a ladder through the elevator roof and helped the women climb out. Then the women, the suit states, jumped onto the roof of another elevator car and climbed down to safety.

The suit states Martinez had injuries to her lower back, left leg and ankle as well as emotional stress.

Williams, according to the suit, was diagnosed with a fractured left foot, sustained closed head trauma and a sustained lumbosacral strain. Also, the suit states, she has emotional distress and claustrophobia.

The suit was initially filed in Harris County state district court March 4. It was received in U.S. District Court in May after the defendants requested it be handled by the federal courts as the proper jurisdiction for the suit.

Latest from the Chron.com Homepage

Click below for the top news from around the Houston area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.